MetMo Grip Review: An Over-Engineered Wrench Built for Pure Enjoyment

Introduction

Some tools are designed to get a job done and disappear back into the drawer. The MetMo Grip is not one of them. Made by MetMo, short for Metal in Motion, a company based in Great Britain known for producing wildly over-engineered objects, this is a wrench that is genuinely as much fun to operate as it is to work with.

It is a modern revival of a design from around 1912, once known as the “zip grip,” brought back to life with modern machining. At roughly $129 USD or £99, it is not cheap. But it occupies a rare space: part functional tool, part engineering toy, and almost entirely delightful.

A Design Brought Back From 1912

The story behind the MetMo Grip is a big part of its appeal. The design traces back to an early 20th century wrench that went through several iterations and then fell into obscurity. There is even some suggestion that wrenches like this were included in certain government vehicle kits, possibly including the Sherman tank, though that detail remains anecdotal.

Two engineers at MetMo found an old patent for a wrench of this type and decided to bring it back using contemporary machining techniques. The result is remarkably smooth in operation, with what appears to be roughly a four-to-one screw ratio on the sliding mechanism. It is the kind of simple-machine elegance that older tools had in abundance, the same appeal as a Yankee screwdriver or an old pipe wrench taken apart on the living room floor.

What It Can Actually Do

Despite its toy-like charm, the MetMo Grip is a real tool. The standard grip at the top works as you would expect from a wrench. There is an integrated bottle opener, which also doubles as a bit holder: drop in a quarter-inch bit, snug it up, and you effectively have a screwdriver, with the bit held firmly enough for real use.

A lanyard hole lets you add a loop if you want to carry it. And yes, it can serve as a hammer in a pinch. But the honest answer to “what is its function” is partly just enjoyment. Sliding the screw back and forth is genuinely pleasurable, and that is by design. This is a tool intended to be operated and appreciated, not merely used.

Small Details That Make It Feel Considered

Flip the tool over and you will find an engraved scale on the back, marked in both inches and millimeters, so it can pull double duty as a measuring reference. The machining throughout is crisp, and the mechanism glides with the kind of finish you would expect from a much larger precision tool.

MetMo makes several other products along the same philosophy, and they are worth browsing if this kind of engineering object appeals to you. The Grip, though, sits comfortably in the functional-tool category while still being designed first and foremost to be enjoyed in the hand.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The biggest hurdle is price. At around $129 USD or £99, this is a significant spend for a tool whose primary job, for many owners, will be sitting on a desk being fidgeted with. The components are currently manufactured in China, and the product reached the market through a crowdfunding campaign before launching into general sale. If you are looking for a heavy-duty workshop wrench, this is not that. If you want a beautifully made object that happens to also work as a wrench, screwdriver, bottle opener, and scale, it makes far more sense.

Buying Advice

Buy the MetMo Grip if you love mechanical objects, appreciate the elegance of simple machines, or want a genuinely functional conversation piece for a desk or workshop. It also makes a strong gift for anyone who grew up taking apart tools just to see how they worked.

Skip it if you need a serious duty wrench or if the price is hard to justify for something you would mostly enjoy rather than use daily.

Conclusion

The MetMo Grip succeeds at something unusual: being a real tool that is designed to be as much fun to operate as it is to work with. It revives a century-old design with modern precision, packs in a screwdriver function, bottle opener, and measuring scale, and delivers pure mechanical satisfaction in the hand. At its price it is a considered purchase, but for the right buyer it is exactly the kind of over-engineered joy that makes tools worth collecting.